Interestingly, in vitro data suggest that the cytokines IL-1β and IFN-γ, putative mediators of ß -cell loss in type-1 diabetes, induce severe ER stress through NO-mediated depletion of ER calcium and inhibition of ER chaperones, respectively, thus hampering ß -cell defenses and amplifying the pro-apoptotic pathways. Here, IFNG is linked to type 1 diabetes mellitus.